Liquid coating material applying apparatus



March 5, 1968 SQ F. STEFELY 3,371,980

LIQUID COATING MATERIAL APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTORSTEPHEN E STEFELY I -40 mm W; WW,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,371,980 LIQUED COATING MATERIALAPPLYING APPARATUS Stephen F. Stately, 1729 N. Lotus Ave, Chicago, lili.60639 Fiied Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,748 8 Claims. (Cl. 431-485)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Liquid coating material applying apparatusincludes a brush formed of a support block and bristles. A disperserintroduces liquid coating material into the bristles and includes acontinuous, aperturedpolyvinyl chloride tube having .its ends joined toform a loop among the bristles. An enlarged portion is attached to theends of the tube, and the loop is deformable so that it can be insertedinto the brush through an opening in the support block. The enlargedportion engages the support block and holds the loop within the brush.

The present invention relates to liquid coating material applyingapparatus and more particularly to improved apparatus for dispersingliquid coating material into the bristles of a brush.

The terms liquid coating material, or coating material, when used inthis specification, are intended to encompass any liquid which might bespread on a surf-ace in a thin layer or coating. Thus, the termsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, paints, varnishes andenamels as well as glues or adhesives in liquid form.

Known apparatus for applying liquid coating material to a surface from areservoir may include a handheld brush applicator to which the coatingmaterial is supplied from the reservoir. With such devices, the liquidcoating material is fed to the brush bristles and is subsequentlybrushed onto the surface to be coated. The applicator may include adisperser for discharging the liquid coating material into the brushbristles. One example of this type of apparatus may be found in mycopending application entitled Liquid Coating Equipment, Ser. No.325,978, filed Nov. 26, 1963, now Patent No. 3,304,573. 7

In order for the brush applicator of liquid coating apparatus to operatesatisfactorily, the dispenser must be able to discharge coating materialevenly and continuously into the brush. Known devices have provenunsatisfactory in this respect for many reasons. Some are not eflectiveto supply liquid coating material evenly over a substantial portion ofthe width of the brush. Many known devices do not feed evenly in allpositions of the brush, and with some devices the flow is interruptedwhen there is pressure on the brush. An additional disadvantage of knowndevices resides in the fact that they are difficult to clean, and thusbecome clogged or fouled after a period of use. Furthermore, knowndispersers are either too stiff or rigid, thus interfering with theaction of the brush, or they are not rigid enough and sag out ofposition, especially when loaded with coating material.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved disperser capable of overcoming the disadvantages of knowndevices.

It is another object to provide improved liquid coating materialapplying apparatus capable of continuously applying coating materialevenly onto a surface regardless of the position of the brush and thepressure on the brush.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatusincluding a disperser readily removable from the brush for cleaning orreplacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im-.

proved disperser of simple construction which may be produced veryeconomically.

A further object is to provide an improved disperser able to feed liquidcoating material evenly onto the brush bristles in any position of thebrush.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispersercharacterized by the fact that flow into the brush is not interrupted bypressure on the brush.

Another object is to provide a disperser for a brush characterized inthat it is easily flexed with the brush, but does not sag out of itsproper position in the brush.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement-for mounting a disperser in a brush characterized in that the dispersercan easily be mounted and removed, but does not come loose during use,and

characterized in that leakage cannot occur at the region where thedisperser is secured.

Briefly, liquid coating material applying apparatus embodying thefeatures of the present invention may include a brush applicator havinga handle releasably attached to a support to which are secured aplurality of bristles forming a brush. Liquid coating material is fed tothe handle and enters a passageway in the support from which it isdischarged into the brush. In accordance with a feature of theinvention, there is provided a novel disperser including a tube offlexible material formed into a loop within the brush, and the loop isprovided With one or more apertures for discharging the liquid coatingmaterial into the brush bristles. The loop shape provides an economicalarrangement capable of evenly applying the coating material under allconditions over the working portion of the brush.

The looped flexible tube is provided with apertures for discharging theliquid coating material into the brush bristles. In one embodiment ofthe invention, the outside of the loop is provided with several smalltransverse slits that are held open due to the curvature of the loop. Inthe other illustrated embodiments, one or several axial slits are used.The apertures in the looped slitted tube remain open even when pressureis applied against the brush, and thus the disperser of the presentinvention is free from disadvantageous interruptions of the flow ofcoating material to which known devices are subject.

In order that the disperser may be conveniently cleaned or replaced ifdesired, a novel arrangement is provided for releasably mounting thedisperser on the support. Thus, the support includes an opening throughwhich the flexible tube may be inserted. The disperser includes aflexible enlarged end portion, communicating with the ends of the loopedtube and engageable with the opening for holding the loop in the brushbristles. The disperser can be removed from the brush by moving it outfrom the rear of the support, but it cannot be removed in the otherdirection, and cannot come loose during use. Furthermore, an arrangementis provided whereby the flexible enlarged end is compressed and servesas a seal to prevent leakage of coating material.

The looped shape of the disperser tube provides a very stablespring-like action for holding the disperser in the proper positionwithin the brush. Thus, the disperser does not tend to sag out of shapeeven when loaded with liquid coating material. Nevertheless, due to theuse of flexible material for construction of the looped tube, thedisperser is able easily to flex with the brush, particularly in adirection perpendicular to the width of the brush and perpendicular tothe plane of the loop.

The above and further objects and advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the following description taken with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid coating material applicatorembodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the disperser of the apparatusof FIG. 1 taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the disperser;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the disperser;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along theline 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8. is a view similar to FIG. 7 of apparatus comprising analternative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of apparatus comprising anotheralternative embodiment of the invention.

Having reference now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a handheld brush applicator embodying the features of thepresent invention and generally designated as 10. In accordance with animportant feature of the present invention, the applicator 10 isprovided with a new and improved disperser generally designed as 12 fordischarging liquid coating material into the brush of the applicator 10.

Many details of construction and the operation of the applicator 10 aresimilar to the brush applicator described in my above mentionedcopending application. Briefly, the applicator 10 includes a handle 14upon which is mounted a compressible bulb air pump 16. By virtue of acheck valve 18 on the pump 16 air pressure may be developed within thepump 16. This air pressure is supplied to a remote reservoir (not shown)through a flexible conduit 20. As a result of the air pressure withinthe remote reservoir, liquid coating material is forced out of thereservoir and through another flexible conduit 22 to the handle 14.

Within the handle 14, the liquid coating material travels along apassageway defined in the handle to a suitable valve, controlled by avalve operating member 24 conveniently positioned at the top of thehandle 14. By manipulation of the valve operating member 24, the flow ofliquid coating material from the reservoir to the brush may becontrolled. From the flow controlling valve, the liquid coating materialtravels along a passageway defined at least in part by a rigid orsubstantially rigid tube 26 toward the brush. The tube 26 is securelyfixed to the handle 14.

The applicator 10 includes a brush 28 formed in conventional manner of aplurality of brush bristles held in a resinous support block 30surrounded by a ferrule 32. The support block 30 is detachably connectedto the handle 14 and is provided with a central opening 34 receiving thetube 26 whereby the liquid coating material is fed through the supportblock 30 toward the brush 28.

The disperser 12 is mounted to the support block 30 and is positionedwithin the bristles of the brush 28. In accordance with a feature of theinvention, the disperser 12 comprises a length of flexible tubing 36formed into the shape of a loop. The two ends 36a and 36b of the tubing36 are joined to an enlarged end portion 38 of the disperser 12. Asdescribed hereinafter, the end portion 3-8 is mounted in novel fashionto the support 30, whereby the looped tube 36 is firmly held by thesupport block 30 in the midst of the brush bristles.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the looped tube 36 isprovided with a series of apertures 40 comprising transverse slitsspaced along the outer periphery of the loop. The apertures 40 aredisposed along the part of the loop near the tip of the brush 28. Liquidcoating material fed to the disperser 12 through the two ends 36a and36b of the tube is discharged into the brush bri t through the apertures40.

The novel looped shape of the tube 36 provides several advantages in theoperation of the disperser 12. The apertures 40 are convenienlty spacedacross a substantial portion of the width of the brush 28, whereby theliquid coating material is evenly fed across the working portion of thebrush. Furthermore, during use of the brush, the pressure on the brushdoes not interrupt the flow of paint through the disperser.

The looped shape additionally provides a spring-like action to thedisperser 12 which tends to hold the disperser in its proper position,even when loaded with coating material. The spring-like action providesa resistance to movement of the disperser in the plane of the loop ofthe tube 36. However, the resistance provided against movement in adirection normal to the plane of the loop is somewhat less, whereby thedisperser doesnot interfere with the flexible action of the brush 28during application of coating material.

Another advantageous feature of the disperser 12 constructed inaccordance with the invention is that both ends of the loop aresimultaneously supplied with liquid coating material. Accordingly, thepressure of the coating material throughout the disperser tends to bequite even and as a result an even flow of coating material is suppliedto the brush across its entire width.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the disperseris mounted in novel fashion within the applicator 10, and is easilyremovable therefrom, if desired, for cleaning or replacement. Thus thecentral opening 34 in the support block 30 includes an innermost segment34a large enough to receive the enlarged end portion 38 of the disperser12. An outermost segment 34b of the opening 34 is too small to receivethe enlarged end portion 38, but is large enough to receive the tubing36 which easily can be deformed from its looped shape and can then beinserted through both segments of the opening 34. Thus the disperser 12is installed through the rear of support block 30 and into the brush 28until the enlarged end portion 38 engages the segment 34b of theopening. Furthermore, after being installed, the disperser cannotaccidentally be pulled out through the brush 28, and additionally cannotWork loose during use of the applicator 10. However, if desired, thedisperser can easily be removed from the support block 30 by pushing itout in a rearward direction through the opening 34. In this manner, ifdesired, the disperser may be removed after use and soaked or otherwisecleaned.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the disperseritself acts as a seal to prevent the leakage of the liquid coatingmaterial before it reaches the apertures 40 in the tubing 36. Thus theenlarged portion 38 of the disperser is formed of a flexible material,which may be the same as the material of which the tubing 36 is formed.In addition, the enlarged portion 38 is sized to fit snugly Within thesegment 34a of the opening 34 in order to form a seal with the wall ofthe opening (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The segment 34a of the central opening 34 in the block 30 is internallythreaded to receive external threads on the tube 26. Thus in order tomount the support block 30 and brush 28 onto the handle 14, the block 30is conveniently threaded onto the tube 26. In order to hold the supportblock 30 and brush 28 in position on the handle, a spring latch 42 isengaged with a cooperating recess on the block 30. If desired, the tubemay be long enough so that threading of the tube 26 tightly into theopening 34 causes the end of the tube 26 to compress the enlarged endportion 38 of the disperser 12 thereby assuring even a better sealbetween the enlarged portion 38 and the wall of the openmg.

If desired, any other suitable arrangement may be used to attach thesupport 30 to the handle 14.

In a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, thetubing 36 was formed of a polyvinyl chloride material, but it isbelieved that any other elastomeric material such as chlorinated rubbercould be used. The material used had a durometer hardness, Shore A, of60 measured by the A.S.T.M. method D676-58T. It is believed that atleast any material in the approximate range of 35 to 95 would besuitable for the tubing 36. The tubing used had an inside diameter ofinch and an outside diameter of 4 inch, but it is believed that theinside diameter of the tubing could vary at least within the range ofinch to A1 inch.

Having reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there are illustrated twoalternative embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments thereillustrated are identical to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 except in theorientation of the apertures provided in the disperser 12, and theidentical portions are given the same reference numerals.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 includes a disperser 12 provided with anaperture 40' comprising an elongated axial slit in the outer peripheryof the looped tube. In FIG. 9 the disperser 12" is provided with aseries of axially disposed slits 40". The advantages of the disperser 12discussed above can also be obtained with the dispersers 12' and 12". Inparticular, the resiliency and stiffness of the material used for thetubing prevents the disperser from being closed due to pressure on thebrush. Thus even when the brush is bent over to a considerable extent,it has been found that the liquid coating material flows freely from thedisperser into the brush through any of the illustrated apertures.

While the invention has been described in connection with particularembodiments thereof, it will be understood that those skilled in the artmay make many changes and modifications without departing from theinvention. Therefore it is intended in the appended claims to cover allchanges and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. Liquid coating material applying apparatus comprising in combinationa support, a plurality of bristles secured to said support to form abrush at one surface of said support, means defining an openingextending through said support between said one surface and anothersurface of said support, and a disperser releasably mounted on saidsupport for introducing liquid coating material into said brush, saiddisperser including a hollow flexible apertured tube having first andsecond ends joined to form a loop and including an enlarged portionsecured to said tube near said ends, said loop normally being largerthan said opening and being deformable to a configuration wherein theloop may be inserted through said opening and into said brush, saidenlarged portion being engageable with said opening for holding saidloop portion within said brush.

2. Liquid coating material applying apparatus comprising in combinationa support, a plurality of bristles secured to said support to form abrush at a first surface of said support, means defining an openingextending through said support between said first surface and a secondsurface of said support, said opening including a relatively smallersegment adjacent said first surface and a larger segment adjacent saidsecond surface, and a disperser releasably mounted on said support forintroducing liquid coating material into said brush, said disp erserincluding a hollow flexible apertured tube having first and second endsjoined to form a loop and including an enlarged portion secured to saidtube near said ends, said loop normally being larger than said openingand being deformable to a configuration wherein the loop may be insertedthrough said opening into said brush, said enlarged portion beingreceivable within said larger segment of said opening and engageablewith said smaller segment for holding said loop portion within saidbrush.

3. The liquid coating material applying apparatus of claim 1, saidopening having a diameter approximately twice as large as the diameterof said tube.

4. Liquid coating material applying apparatus comprising in combination:

a support block;

a plurality of bristles secured to one surface of said support block toform a brush;

a disperser among said bristles for introducing liquid coating materialinto said brush;

said disperser comprising an elongated, continuous tube having spacedends;

said spaced ends both being supported on said support block so that saidtube forms a loop extending into and among said bristles;

means for supplying liquid coating material into said tube;

and at least one aperture in said tube spaced from said ends fordischarging liquid coating material into said brush;

said tube being constructed entirely of elastomeric material having adegree of flexibility such that said loop flexes easily with said brushand having a degree of resiliency and stiffness such that the tuberemains unblocked when the brush is flexed.

5. The liquid coating material applying apparatus of claim 4 whereinsaid elastomeric material is polyvinyl chloride.

6. The liquid coating material applying apparatus of claim 4, said endsof said tube being supported adjacent one another so that said tubeforms a closed loop.

7. The liquid coating material applying apparatus of claim 6, saiddispenser further including an enlarged portion attached to said tubeends and secured to said support block.

8. The liquid coating material applying apparatus of claim 7, an openingextending between said one surface and the opposite surface of thesupport block, said opening being smaller than said enlarged portion andsmaller than said loop, said loop being deformable into a configurationsuch that it may be inserted into and withdrawn from said brush fromsaid opposite surface of said support block.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,022 7/1899 Nasberg 15-6021,173,174 2/1916 Kohl et al. 15-602 2,040,327 5/ 1936 Olesen 15-5072,190,599 2/1940 Jones 15-604 2,482,905 9/1949 Eisner 15-604 2,488,05611/1949 Eisner et al. 15-602 X 3,120,677 2/ 1964 Carpenter 15-602 X3,304,573 2/1967 Stefely 15-507 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

